10 Must Read Self-Publishing Blogs For Authors And Writers

Whether you are new to writing and publishing or an old hand, you should never stop learning; these self-publishing blogs will help.

Even though I hunt high and low for ideas for my blog posts, I always check my favorite sources of informed opinion and publishing advice.

The following blogs and sites have all been around for quite some time.

They are written by experienced self-published authors, writers, or experts who really know their stuff.

The best self-publishing blogs for writers

My list of blogs below offers different perspectives. But they all give you sound advice and opinions based on hard-earned experience.

I truly appreciate that you are reading this post on my blog, and I hope many more. But I am sure you have enough time in your day to add these excellent sites to your daily reading list.

Then, you can keep up with the latest self-publishing trends and advice and even top up your writing and grammar knowledge.

If you are new to self-publishing and writing, they will give you all the help you need to get started.

1. Kindlepreneur

Dave Chesson is a leading expert in self-publishing. His Kindleprenuer blog is a reference point for many new and experienced authors.

It must be one of the best self-publishing blogs for authors.

You’ll find hundreds of articles on his site that will help you with any aspect related to writing, publishing, and promoting your books.

He is also the creator of Publisher Rocket, a popular software program that searches the Amazon book database for KDP keywords and category ideas.

2. Alliance of Independent Authors (Alli)

Self-publishing.org is a part of the Alliance of Independent Authors (Alli).

You can follow the blog to get a better insight into what is happening in Indie author publishing.

Orna Ross and Phillip Lynch are highly experienced in all aspects of the publishing process. If you are a new author, you should be following this blog.

You will find a wealth of information to help you publish ebooks and print-on-demand books and improve your marketing strategies.

There is also a service directory where you can find reputable publishers and service providers such as an editor or book designer.

3. The Creative Penn

The Creative Penn, written by Joanna Penn, is a must-read. Joanna is the ultimate authorpreneur and book marketer.

One salient point to make about Joanna is that she is English, and she proves that self-publishing success is definitely not only about North American writers.

From her about page:

I self-published my first non-fiction book in 2008 and made a lot of mistakes along the way. I also didn’t sell any books because no one knew who I was.

That experience made me determined to learn about marketing, as well as how to become a better writer.

I started this site to share my experiences and hopefully save other people the money, time, and heartache I went through. I’m based in Bath, England although I lived in Australia and New Zealand for 11 years and I’m a travel junkie!

4. Prowritingaid

You probably know about the Prowritingaid app and desktop editor.

But whether you use it or not, the Prowritingaid blog has lots of advice and help for writers and self-publishing authors.

It’s not only about grammar.

You can find comprehensive articles about the writing process, blog and content writing, business writing, and much more.

There is also a section to help you decide what writing apps are best for you.

5. Reedsy

The Reedsy Blog is a fantastic resource for writers, authors, and self-publishers. It caters to experienced writers as well as those just starting out.

It has a wealth of articles, guides, and expert advice covering a vast range of topics essential for the writing journey.

From writing craft tips and genre-specific insights to marketing strategies and self-publishing advice, Reedsy gives you practical and helpful information.

Much of its content is written by industry professionals, including successful writers, editors, and marketers, so you get a lot of reliable guidance.

For writers and authors who are either new or not so new to writing, Reedsy is a great source of information, advice, and guidance.

Take a look at some of the articles, and you’ll quickly see why it is a must-read blog.

6. Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb writes about writing, and often in such a direct voice that she can initially come across as the writing teacher you feared at high school.

On social media, she often describes herself as sassy. Not being American, I’m not sure what sassy means.

But one thing I do know from reading her blog for a long time now is that she knows a lot about the art of writing. 

Kristen has guided writers of all levels. From unpublished green peas to NY Times best-selling big fish. Learn how to use social media to create a solid platform and brand.

Most importantly, Kristen helps authors of all levels connect to their READERS and then maintain a relationship that grows into a long-term fan base.

7. Mark Coker – Smashwords

Whether you publish with Smashwords or not, Mark Coker’s blog posts are always well worth reading.

Sure, he is not a big fan of Amazon exclusivity and makes his point about that regularly.

But if anyone knows how self-publishing works, it’s Mark. Miss a post at your peril.

Mark Cokers is the founder of Smashwords, a distributor of indie (self-published) ebooks serving Apple, B&N, OverDrive, Scribd, Oyster, Kobo, and libraries.

8. Jane Freidman

If anyone knows the publishing industry inside out, it’s Jane Freidman.

She has become an expert in the digital era of authorship and is a regular columnist for Publishers Weekly. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR.

In 2019, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.

In her spare time, Jane writes creative nonfiction.

9. David Gaughran

David Gaughran is an Irish writer and author who has helped many new authors publish books and succeed in self-publishing.

His book, Let’s Get Digital, was a huge success. He has written for the Guardian, Forbes, Mashable, the Telegraph, and many others.

When it comes to writing, he is well worth reading.

It is one of the most comprehensive self-publishing blogs you can find.

10. Grammarly

Yes, lots of writers use the Grammarly app every day.

But behind the app is a terrific free blog full of articles and advice about writing and grammar, of course.

There’s hardly a writing topic that is not covered, so you are bound to find the advice you are trying to find.

Take a look at the Grammarly blog, and I’m sure you will enjoy reading many of the articles.

Summary

There are many great writing and publishing blogs to help new authors and writers.

But these are at the top of my reading list.

I highly recommend that you bookmark all of them.

Then, you can keep abreast of the latest trends in self-publishing and writing and continue to learn about writing and self-publishing.

Related reading: Amazon Self-Publishing Problems And Solutions